Here are a trio of ladies that want to sing you their creations and interpretations.
Singer, guitarist and songwriter Julia Haltigan leads a team of Caito Sanchez/dr, John Kengla/g, Morgan Wiley/org, Maeve Gilchrist/p-harp, Andrew Raposo/b-prog and guest horn players on an album that sounds like a return to the New Wave movement of the late 70s.
Julia sings and gives an attitude of the band Blondie on the “Ex-Offender”-inspired “Debris Of Love” and the Farfisa is flying on “Just A Little Thunder.” Stark tones from angst-B movies of the late 50s are felt on “Wool” and “You Don’t Even Know It” with a punk driven Ramones beat for “Walk Away.” Is the Whisky A Go Go taking auditions?
Pianist, singer and songwriter Christine Smith gives a valiant effort to put together some heartfelt and moody album, but she’s sidelined on this recent effort with abysmal recording quality and mixing. The rich muted trumpet on “This Love” is obscured by the distant microphone on “This Love” and the impotent night club mood of “This Can’t Hurt Me Anymore.” Echoey voice and noir moods on “Trying Not To Fall In Love” and the synthy pulse of “Feels Like Yesterday” are distracted by the tinny tones of all the instruments. Was this recorded through a funnel?
Sonia Johnson has a strong and confident voice, using it in a mostly pop atmostphere on this collection of originals. Lots of horns give a soul feel to “Everywhere” and “ Monsters” and David Ryshpan’s keyboards add to the sleekness of “They Stole Your Song” and “Storm.” Jean-Pierre Zanella’s flute brings charm to the Latin-toned “ Hidden Places” with Johnson herself sounds in command an as polished as the grill on a 61 Caddy.